The popular Swedish retail brand, which designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, has been the world’s largest furniture retailer since 2008.

Currently, the closest stores to Oxfordshire are in Milton Keynes and Reading, which both require lengthy drives to reach.

With new stores being announced to open in Chester, Essex and Norwich, last April, the Oxford Mail enquired if there were plans for a move to the county soon.

Having been told that there were no solid plans for an expansion into Oxfordshire last year, but with an eye kept on the situation by IKEA, this newspaper has asked again, one year on.

Today (Tuesday, April 7), a spokesperson for the brand said: “We’re in a fast-changing retail environment and we want to make sure we continue to be affordable and convenient.

“Our ambitious growth plans mean we are focusing on all parts of creating a great customer experience, whenever and wherever people need us.

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“This includes investing in our online offer, pick up points and customer services, rebuilding and adapting existing IKEA stores, and evaluating different locations as part of our expansion strategy.​

“Whilst we are reviewing our strategy on an ongoing basis. We are not considering Oxfordshire as a potential location for IKEA at this current time.”

For Oxfordshire customers who prefer not to travel to Reading or Milton Keynes, the brand’s products can be delivered straight to homes or to a Tesco or DPD pick‑up point nearby.

J&K Cuisine Ltd fell into liquidation after Immigration Enforcement paid a visit in the summer of last year.

The company runs Bilash Tandoori in Broadshires Way, Carterton, a place it has operated from since 2014.

Gareth Hunt and Alex Cachini, of Manchester-based business restructuring specialist RPG, were appointed as joint liquidators in August.

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Statement of affairs submitted to Companies House reveal the company went bust with £351,000 worth of debts owed.

Most of this was the £280,000 fine it was issued with after it was found to have employed illegal workers.

Details of this raid and how many illegal workers were found have not been publishing in the recent list by Immigratin Enforcement.

However, as a general rule, businesses that have been caught with an illegal worker on site receive a fine of up to £45,000 per illegal worker.

Company directors Mohammed Alam, 28, and Jamal Hasib, 70, are both owed £26,107 each, the records show.

HMRC has a claim of £9,762 in unpaid VAT which is expected to go down to £6,012 due to the cash in the bank and the electricty company Smartest Energy is owed £9,221.

Bilash, which is still registered as being open on Google, has been approached for a further comment.

The website says: “Bilash in central Carterton is proud to serve wholesome and unpretentious Indian food as a shared dining experience.”

The 19-year-old was identified as a wanted man by Thames Valley Police on March 9 after he didn’t attend a court date in connection with an alleged rape in Oxford last year.

In an update on Tuesday afternoon, April 7, Thames Valley Police confirmed a 19-year-old man has been arrested and is due in court on Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “Thames Valley Police is no longer appealing for help to find a man wanted in connection with a rape investigation.

“A 19-year-old-man from Faringdon was arrested on Thursday (2/3) and is due in Oxford Crown Court tomorrow.”

The court since set a new trial date for December 14, and it was indicated it would likely proceed if he was found by then or not. The trial should last between four and five days.